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It was a very busy Memorial Day Weekend here on the North Fork! Celebrations were in full swing, especially in Greenport, NY where the spectacular Tall Ships were docked for the long weekend. Visitors came by boat, car, bike and ferry to this wonderful maritime village to celebrate with their family & friends.

Greenport was the second port to host the Tall Ships fleet, as they travel around the country (and Canada) for the Tall Ships Challenge Race Series. The Tall Ships are traditionally rigged sailing vessels crewed by youths ages 13 to 25. Visitors can board the Tall Ships, meet the crews, and learn about the vessels they’re on. I am lucky to have viewed the Tall Ships on Thursday before it became really crowded in the village, and again today by sea!

Aside from the excitement of the Tall Ships, the weekend weather was beautiful! I enjoyed some outside barbecues, making DIY flag arrangements, fireworks, and even squeezed in some fishing. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! Here are some pics from my weekends adventures! Enjoy!

Now I’m going to stray from my usual topic of home decor today, but I just had to share with all my readers the CUTEST nautical shoes from Lindsay Phillips.

Lindsay Phillips is a young entrepreneur whose footwear concept grew out of a high school art project. She began designing flip flops with colorful straps, each adorned with a unique button. Soon after, she realized she could make shoes with interchangeable straps and buttons, and this now booming company was born.

The Lindsay Phillips line includes flip flops (switch flops), ballet flats (snap shoes), and even heels. The shoe base comes in a variety of colors and materials, with interchangeable buttons and straps to match. What I love about these shoes is the flexibility. You can buy one solid colored base shoe, and several buttons, and voila…you now have a myriad of looks!

This season, Lindsay Phillips is featuring a broad selection of nautical/coastal themed buttons. I just can’t resist them!

It is not too early to start to think about this up coming Memorial Day Weekend, and how to decorate in celebration of the Red White & Blue! Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nations service.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Many people choose to hold picnics, sporting events and family gatherings on this weekend, as it is usually seen as the start of the summer season. For the fashion conscious, it is seen the day on which it is acceptable to wear white clothing.

I love red, white and blue decor, and tend to use it in my home year round, not just seasonally. Americana is always in! Finding red white & blue decor to celebrate this spirited weekend has never been easier. Here’s some red, white and blue inspiration for your home, table and party in honor of Memorial Day…and some special sweet treats for dessert!

It was more than a decade ago that my youngest son introduced me to the world of buoys. When my kids were younger, we traveled by boat every weekend to beautiful Block Island. It was during this time that my son became infatuated with buoys, and his obsession became infectious.

While at sea, he would always be on the lookout for the next red or green buoy. He’d plot their numbers and location on a chart. It was quite cute, I must say. It was my sons love of buoys that inspired me to start incorporating them in my interior designs. I learned that buoys are an integral part of any nautical or coastal decor project, not just for sailors at sea!

I have found buoys for interior and exterior decorating projects over the last year inTarget, Pottery Barn, Home Good’s, local gift shops and several internet websites. So if you are decorating a child’s bedroom or playroom, a family room or even an exterior patio space, there is a buoy for you! Click each photo to see where you can buy each buoy!

One thing thats great about living in the Northeast is that we’re blessed with a variety of coastal towns and islands to visit. When it comes to islands of the Northeast, there’s no doubt that Long Island is my favorite. Travel east of New York City, past the suburbs of Nassau County, and you’ll find the North Fork, and of course, the infamous Hamptons.

The draw of this area is undeniable. From beautiful beaches, to vineyards, to farms, to restaurants, and quaint hamlets nestled between the Long Island Sound, Peconic Bays, and Atlantic Ocean, the East End has it all. I am lucky to call the East End home.

I am sure that some of you share a particular fondess of a Northeast island or coastal town that is your favorite vacation spot or a place you call home. Perhaps Block Island, Shelter Island, Nantucket, Fishers Island, or Martha’s Vineyard, to name a few. I have visited many of these wonderful coastal towns and often like to bring back a special mementos of my visit.

I love incorporating decor from the places I have visited into my home. It reminds me of memories of my trip, and definitely helps me get through cold winters dreaming about summer days to come! These decorative items also make great gifts for your favorite island loving friend or family member. Today I’d like to share three great island inspired home decor/gift ideas from Cat Studio, SarahPfau, and NauticalCharts.com.

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Cat Studio makes a variety of geographically themed pillows, towels, bags and more. I was given the “Nantucket” pillow several years ago as a housewarming gift and adore it. Each pillow highlights the landmarks of the region which it represents, and is a constant reminder of the places on Nantucket I visited and enjoyed. Cat Studio makes pillows for almost every state, island, some countries and even national parks. There’s bound to be one for your favorite place. Here are a few of my favorite pillows from Cat Studio:

I came across SarahPfau on Etsy.com recently and just had to share. Sarah is a jeweler from Brooklyn, New York who makes beautiful island pendants. Her original designs are handcrafted of sterling silver and come beautifully gift wrapped. They definitely make a great gift…even for yourself!

Finally, I love the idea of hanging nautical charts in your home or office. I also think these make great gift (think Father’s Day!). I’ve found a company called NauticalCharts.com, where you can order custom framed charts for your home. There are a variety of frame and matte choices, as well as various charts from waterways around the country.